Medical imaging data streaming

ABSTRACT

A system and method for streaming unprocessed medical image data from a medical imaging system to a remote terminal is provided. A medical imaging system acquires medical image data, generates unprocessed medical image data, and then transmits the unprocessed medical image data to a remote terminal. The remote terminal receives the unprocessed medical image data, processes the data to render a medical image and displays the medical image to an operator at the remote terminal. Additionally, the operator may control imaging parameters at the remoter terminal for use in rendering the medical image. Additionally, the operator may control imaging parameters on the medical imaging system. Also, the operator at the remoter terminal and the operator at the medical imaging system may communicate with each other during the examination through the medical imaging system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a system and methodfor transmitting medical imaging data. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to transmitting remotely controllable unprocessedmedical imaging data over a network such as the Internet, an Intranet,or a wireless network to a remote site for viewing by an expert.

[0002] Medical imaging systems are typically used for a wide variety ofapplications in the field of medicine. For example, medical imagingsystems such as ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or X-ray systems, may be usedfor diagnosis or monitoring purposes. One type of medical imaging systemcommonly used in medicine is an ultrasound imaging system. Typicalultrasound imaging systems operate by transmitting ultrasonic soundwaves into a patient's body using a transducer. The transducer istypically a device placed on the patient's body over the area to beimaged that is capable of sending and receiving ultrasonic sound waves.The ultrasonic sound waves sent by the transducer are reflected by thepatient's internal bodily structures. The reflected ultrasonic soundwaves transmitted into the patient's body may then be received by thetransducer and transmitted to a data acquisition processor in theultrasound imaging system.

[0003] The data acquisition processor typically converts the ultrasonicsound waves into digital, unprocessed ultrasound data. The unprocessedultrasound data may then be transmitted to an ultrasound data processor.The ultrasound data processor may then perform pre-processing functionson the unprocessed ultrasound data resulting in pre-processed ultrasounddata. The pre-processed ultrasound data may then be transferred to anultrasound imaging processor in the ultrasound imaging system. Theultrasound imaging processor may then perform post-processing functionssuch as B-compression, dynamic range adjustments, or intensitythreshold, for example, on the pre-processed ultrasound data resultingin post-processed ultrasound data. The post-processed data may then betransmitted to a scan converter. The scan converter of thepost-processed ultrasound data may convert the post-processed ultrasounddata into pixel image data in X-Y coordinates. The pixel image data maythen be transmitted to a display console. The display console typicallydisplays the final pixel image data so that a visual representation ofthe patient's internal bodily structures may be viewed or heard as anultrasound image in real time by a doctor or technician for example.

[0004] Typical ultrasound imaging systems may also include a controlconsole. The control console of the ultrasound imaging system typicallyincludes a number of control devices. The control devices of the controlconsole may be used by the technician or doctor to manipulate theparameters of the pre-processed or post-processed ultrasound data. Themanipulation of the parameters of the pre-processed or post-processedultrasound data allows the technician to adjust or manipulate thedisplayed ultrasound images. Ultrasound imaging systems that allow thetechnician or an examining doctor to adjust or manipulate the displayedultrasound images may provide for greater flexibility and control overan ultrasound examination. Typically, the examining doctor knows whatultrasound images need to be viewed and the how the ultrasound imagesneed to be viewed in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Thus, byallowing the examining doctor to manipulate the displayed ultrasoundimages, the doctor can get the information and images needed to make anaccurate diagnosis. However, not all ultrasound examinations mayactually be performed with a doctor in the examination room.

[0005] In today's highly specialized medical society, expert doctors orspecialists with skills in specific fields such as ultrasoundexamination and diagnosis for example, may not be available at everymedical facility with ultrasound imaging systems. Specialists inultrasound imaging may be particularly hard to find at medicalfacilities in remote or rural areas. Thus, traditionally, in rural areaswhere specialists were not available to perform an ultrasoundexamination, either the specialist may have been transported to therural location, or the patient may have been transported to thespecialist's location. However, transporting the specialist to the ruralarea may be undesirable because transportation of the specialist may betime consuming or expensive. Additionally, transporting the patient mayalso be undesirable because transportation of the patient may also betime consuming or possibly dangerous. Therefore, in response to the factthat not all medical facilities with ultrasound imaging systems may havespecialists on-site, remotely viewable ultrasound imaging systems havebeen developed. Remotely viewable ultrasound imaging systems typicallyallow a remotely located specialist to view ultrasound images taken froman on-site ultrasound imaging system. That is, a technician may actuallyperform the ultrasound procedure on-site, while an ultrasound specialistmay view the ultrasound images at a remote location.

[0006] Typical remotely viewable ultrasound imaging systems may operateby transmitting the scan converted pixel image data over an Internetconnection from the on-site facility to the remote location. The pixelimage data may typically be compressed on-site using a video datacompression format such as MPEG for example, and then transmitted overthe Internet to the remote location. At the remote location, a remoteterminal may be used to decode the compressed data and display theultrasound images to the remote specialist. The remote specialist maythen be able to diagnose or view the ultrasound images being taken andmanipulated by the technician. While typical remotely viewableultrasound imaging systems may allow a remotely located specialist toview ultrasound data, typical systems may suffer from some significantdrawbacks.

[0007] One drawback that may exist in typical remotely viewableultrasound imaging systems is a choppy video feed or transmission lag.Typical scan conversion functions performed on the post-processedultrasound data by the ultrasound data processor as discussed above, mayresult in a significant increase in the size of the ultrasound data. Forexample, one video frame of unprocessed ultrasound data may representapproximately 50 kilobits of data, while one frame of scan convertedpost-processed ultrasound data may represent approximately I megabyte ofdata. Typical ultrasound imaging systems may display video at 30 or moreframes per second for real time video. Thus, transmitting the relativelylarge pixel image data over the limited bandwidth of an Internetconnection may result in a transmission lag, or transmission of data ata slower rate than required for real time video at 30 framer per second.Delivering video data at a slower rate than required for real time videoat 30 frames per second may result in reduced frame rates, which mayresult in a choppy video stream. A choppy video stream may beundesirable in ultrasound imaging systems because real time imaging ishighly desirable for allowing the specialist to make accurate diagnosesor readings of the ultrasound image.

[0008] An additional drawback that may exist in typical remotelyviewable ultrasound imaging systems is loss of image quality. Because ofthe limited bandwidth available over the Internet and the relativelylarge size of the pixel image data as discussed above, the pixel imagedata may typically be significantly compressed by hardware or softwareprior to transmission to the remote location. Typical lossy videocompression algorithms such as MPEG may result in lost data during thetransfer from the on-site location to the remote location. Thus, whenthe remote viewer decompresses the compressed data, degradation in imagequality may occur as a result of the lost data. Degradation in imagequality may be undesirable in ultrasound imaging systems because highquality images are highly desirable for allowing the specialist to makeaccurate diagnoses or readings of the ultrasound image. In order to fitthe given bandwidth, the compression ratio typically must be high whichresults in a higher data loss in many cases.

[0009] Another drawback that may exist in typical remotely viewableultrasound imaging systems is the lack of control over the ultrasoundexamination by the remotely located specialist. Because the remoteterminal typically receives the pixel image data after it has been scanconverted, the remote specialist may not be able to perform many of thepre-processing or post-processing functions or operations on theultrasound data available to the technician performing the ultrasoundimaging. The technician performing the ultrasound imaging may typicallybe able to manipulate or adjust the parameters of the pre-processed andpost-processed ultrasound data using the on-site console controls of theultrasound imaging system as discussed above. However, since the remotespecialist receives the pixel image data at such a late stage in thedata cycle, the remote specialist may typically be unable to adjust thepre-processing or post-processing functions such as B-compression,dynamic range adjustments, or intensity threshold for example, from theremote terminal. Instead, the remote specialist may only be able toadjust the viewing parameters of the ultrasound image such as contrast,smoothness, brightness, or resizing for example, at the remote terminal.Thus, the remote specialist may be restricted to viewing the ultrasoundimages as dictated by the technician performing the ultrasoundexamination.

[0010] Also, because an unskilled technician may not know what may beimportant to display to the remote specialist, the unskilled technicianmay transmit less than optimal ultrasound images to the remote expertwhich may result in difficult diagnoses or inaccurate diagnoses by theremote specialist. Thus, the lack of control of the imaging operation onthe part of the remote specialist is a considerable drawback.Additionally, it would be highly desirable to provide remote specialistwith the ability to control at least part of the imaging operationbecause typically only the remote specialist typically knows whatultrasound images are desired to be viewed and how to view the images inorder to make an accurate diagnosis.

[0011] Thus, a need exists for a medical imaging system the providesreal-time, high resolution images to a remote expert for evaluation.Additionally, due to the drawbacks discussed above that may occur intypical remotely viewable ultrasound imaging systems, a need exists fora remotely viewable medical imaging system capable of transmittingsmooth, high quality, real time ultrasound data to a remote terminal.Also, a need exists for such a medical imaging system that allows aremote expert to exert at least some control over the imaging operation.More specifically, a need further exists for a remotely viewable medicalimaging system that allows a remotely located operator to have the samecontrol over the functionality of the medical imaging system as thetechnician performing the ultrasound imaging.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides asystem and method for remotely viewing and controlling an ultrasoundimaging device. The present invention preferably includes an ultrasoundimaging system and a remote terminal. In operation, a technicianperforms an ultrasound examination on a patient by using a transducerconnected to the ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasonic signalsreceived by the transducer are transmitted to a data acquisitionprocessor in the ultrasound imaging system. The data acquisitionprocessor converts the ultrasonic sound waves into digital, unprocessedultrasound data. An ultrasound data processor then performspre-processing functions on the unprocessed to form pre-processedultrasound data. The pre-processed ultrasound data is then preferablytransmitted to an ultrasound imaging processor. The ultrasound imagingprocessor may then perform post-processing functions on thepre-processed ultrasound data resulting in post-processed ultrasounddata. The post-processed ultrasound data is the preferably scanconverted into pixel image data and transmitted to a display where thepixel image data may be viewed as an ultrasound image. However, prior topre-processing by the ultrasound data processor, the unprocessedultrasound data, as well as system parameter data, is compressed andtransmitted over a network connection, such as an Internet connection,to the remote terminal.

[0013] At the remote terminal, the unprocessed ultrasound data isreceived by a remote data processor and decompressed. The remote dataprocessor may then perform pre-processing functions on the unprocessedultrasound data resulting in pre-processed ultrasound data. Thepre-processed ultrasound data is then preferably transmitted to a remoteimaging processor. The remote imaging processor may then performpost-processing functions on the pre-processed ultrasound data resultingin post-processed ultrasound data. A doctor or ultrasound-imagingspecialist at the remote terminal may use remote console controls tomanipulate the pre-processing or post-processing functions performed onthe processed ultrasound data. Once the ultrasound data is pre-processedand post-processed to the desired parameters by the doctor, thepost-processed ultrasound data and system parameter data is thenpreferably scan converted resulting in image pixel data. The image pixeldata is then preferably transmitted to a remote display of the remoteterminal for viewing by the doctor.

[0014] Additionally, the remote specialist may use the remote consolecontrols to transmit commands back to the ultrasound imaging system. Thecommands may be used to manipulate the pre-processing or post-processingfunctions of the ultrasound data processor. Thus, the remotely locateddoctor may exert considerable control over the pre-processing andpost-processing functions of the ultrasound data processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a remotely controllable ultrasound imagingsystem according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of the remotely controllableultrasound imaging system according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the data conversion flow of theremotely controllable ultrasound imaging system according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a remotely controllable ultrasound imagingsystem 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.The imaging system 100 includes an ultrasound imaging system 110 and aremote terminal 165. The ultrasound imaging system includes a dataacquisition processor 120, an ultrasound data processor 130, anultrasound imaging processor 140, a scan converter 145, an on-sitedisplay 150, and on-site console controls 160. The remote terminal 165includes a remote data processor 170, a remote imaging processor 180, aremote scan converter 185, a remote display 190, and remote consolecontrols 195.

[0019] The ultrasound imaging system 110 of the remotely controllableultrasound imaging system 100 is preferably attached to a transducer(not shown). The transducer is connected to an input port of theultrasound imaging system 110. The data acquisition processor 120, theultrasound data processor 130, the ultrasound imaging processor 140, andthe scan converter 145, are preferably located inside a housing (notshown) of the ultrasound imaging system 110. The on-site display 150 ispreferably attached to the ultrasound imaging system 110 in a positionviewable by an operator. Similarly, the on-site console controls 160 arealso preferably attached to the ultrasound imaging system 110 in aposition reachable by the operator.

[0020] The remote terminal 165 of the remotely controllable ultrasoundimaging system 100 is preferably attached to the ultrasound imagingsystem 110 by a network connection such as an Internet, Intranet, orwireless network connection for example. The remote data processor 170,the remote imaging processor 180, and the remote scan converter 185 arepreferably located inside a housing (not shown) of the remote terminal165. The remote display 190 is preferably attached to the remoteterminal 165 in a position viewable by an operator. The remote consolecontrols 195 are also preferably attached to the remote terminal 165 ina position reachable by the operator.

[0021] In operation, a technician and a patient are preferably locatedat the site of the ultrasound imaging system 110. A doctor orultrasound-imaging specialist is preferably located at a remote sitewith the remote terminal 165. Once a network connection, such as anInternet, Intranet, or wireless connection for example, is establishedbetween the ultrasound imaging system 110 and the remote terminal 165,the ultrasound imaging may begin. To perform the ultrasound imaging, thetechnician preferably positions a transducer on the patient to image thedesired area of the patient's body. As discussed in the backgroundsection above, the transducer transmits ultrasonic sound waves into thepatient's body. The ultrasonic sound waves sent by the transducer intothe patient's body are reflected by the patient's internal bodilystructures. The reflected ultrasonic sound waves transmitted into thepatient's body may then be received by the transducer and are thenpreferably transmitted to the data acquisition processor 120 of theultrasound imaging system 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0022] The data acquisition processor 120 preferably converts the analogultrasonic sound waves into digital, unprocessed ultrasound data. Theunprocessed ultrasound data is then preferably transmitted to theultrasound data processor 130. The ultrasound data processor 130 thenpreferably performs pre-processing functions such as calculating themathematical functions to transform the ultrasound data from one for toanother for example, on the unprocessed ultrasound data. However, priorto pre-processing, the unprocessed ultrasound data is preferablytransmitted from the ultrasound imaging system 1 10 to the remoteterminal 165 over the network connection. Prior to transmission over thenetwork connection, the unprocessed ultrasound data is preferablycompressed by the ultrasound imaging system 110 using a data compressionalgorithm such as MPEG, for example. Since the amount of unprocessedultrasound data required for real-time imaging is typicallysignificantly smaller than the amount of pixel image data transmitted intypical prior art systems, the unprocessed ultrasound data may becompressed using a lossless compression format or with a smallercompression ratio, thus resulting in a smaller data loss. The data mayeven be transmitted uncompressed given a network connection ofsufficient bandwidth, if desired. Upon transmission over the network,the compressed unprocessed ultrasound data is preferably received by theremote data processor 170 of the remote terminal 165.

[0023] In addition to transmitting the unprocessed ultrasound data fromthe ultrasound imaging system 110 to the remote terminal 165, a secondstream of system parameter data is also preferably compressed andsynchronously transmitted with the unprocessed ultrasound data. Thesystem parameter data may be generated by the ultrasound data processor,Input from on-site controls, or both for example. The system parameterdata may include information such as patient name, patient ID, systemstate, or other information for example. The system parameter data isalso preferably received by the remote data processor 170 of the remoteterminal 165.

[0024] Once the remote data processor 170 of the remote terminal 165receives the unprocessed ultrasound data and the system parameter data,the remote data processor 170 preferably decompresses the unprocessedultrasound data and the system parameter data, if any. The remote dataprocessor 170 may then perform pre-processing functions on theunprocessed data as discussed above, resulting in pre-processedultrasound data. The pre-processed ultrasound data is then preferablytransmitted to the remote imaging processor 180. The remote imagingprocessor 180 then preferably performs post-processing functions such asB-compression, dynamic range adjustments, or intensity threshold, forexample, on the pre-processed ultrasound data resulting inpost-processed ultrasound data.

[0025] The doctor or ultrasound-imaging specialist at the remoteterminal 165 may use the remote console controls 195 to manipulate thepre-processing or post-processing functions performed on the unprocessedultrasound data. By receiving the ultrasound data in an unprocessedformat, the doctor or ultrasound-imaging specialist may perform all ofthe pre-processing or post-processing functions at the remote terminal165 that the ultrasound technician may perform at the ultrasound imagingsystem 110. Once the unprocessed ultrasound data is pre-processed andpost-processed to the desired parameters by the doctor, thepost-processed ultrasound data and system parameter data are preferablytransmitted to the remote scan converter 185. The remote scan converter185 then preferably performs a scan conversion on the post-processedultrasound data. The scan conversion of the post-processed ultrasounddata preferably converts the post-processed ultrasound data into pixelimage data in X-Y coordinates. The pixel image data and the systemparameter data are then preferably transferred to the remote display 190of the remote terminal 165. The remote display 190 preferably displaysthe pixel image data and the system parameter data as images so that thedoctor or ultrasound-imaging specialist may view a visual representationof the patient's internal bodily structures as well as patientinformation in real time.

[0026] As the unprocessed ultrasound data transmitted to the remoteterminal 165 is being processed at the remote terminal 165 by themethods discussed above, the unprocessed ultrasound data is alsopreferably being simultaneously processed at the ultrasound imagingsystem 110. That is, upon transmission of the unprocessed ultrasounddata to the remote terminal 165, the unprocessed ultrasound data alsopreferably continues to be processed at the ultrasound imaging system110. The unprocessed ultrasound data is processed at the ultrasoundimaging system 110 in substantially the same fashion as the unprocessedultrasound data is processed at the remote terminal 165 as furtherdiscussed below.

[0027] As previously discussed with regard to the remote terminal 165,the data acquisition processor 120 of the ultrasound imaging system 110converts the ultrasonic sound waves into digital, unprocessed ultrasounddata. The unprocessed ultrasound data is then preferably transmitted tothe ultrasound data processor 130. As discussed above, prior topre-processing, the unprocessed ultrasound data is preferably compressedand transmitted to the remote terminal 165. After one stream of theunprocessed ultrasound data is transmitted to the remote terminal 165, asecond stream of unprocessed ultrasound data is preferably pre-processedby the ultrasound data processor 130 resulting in pre-processedultrasound data. The pre-processed ultrasound data is then preferablytransmitted to the ultrasound imaging processor 140. The ultrasoundimaging processor 140 then preferably performs post-processing functionssuch as B-compression, dynamic range adjustments, or intensitythreshold, for example, on the pre-processed ultrasound data resultingin post-processed ultrasound data.

[0028] The technician at the ultrasound imaging system 110 may use theon-site console controls 160 to manipulate the pre-processing orpost-processing functions performed on the unprocessed ultrasound data.Once the unprocessed ultrasound data is pre-processed and post-processedto the desired parameters by the technician, the post-processedultrasound data and system parameter data are preferably transmitted tothe scan converter 145. The scan converter 145 then preferably performsa scan conversion on the post-processed ultrasound data. As discussedabove, the scan conversion of the post-processed ultrasound datapreferably converts the post-processed ultrasound data into pixel imagedata in X-Y coordinates. The pixel image data and the system parameterdata are then preferably transferred to the on-site display 150 of theultrasound imaging system 110. The on-site display 150 preferablydisplays the pixel image data and the system parameter data as images sothat the technician and the patient may view a visual representation ofthe patient's internal bodily structures as well as patient informationin real time.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the networkconnection between the ultrasound imaging system 110 and the remoteterminal 165 is bi-directional. That is, the ultrasound data processor130 preferably transmits unprocessed ultrasound data to the remote dataprocessor 170 while the remote data processor 170 may transmit commanddata back to the ultrasound data processor 130 as illustrated in FIG. 1.The command data transmitted to the ultrasound data processor 130 by theremote data processor 170 may be used to adjust the pre-processing orpost-processing functions of the ultrasound imaging system 110. Thus,the remotely located specialist may control the parameters of theunprocessed ultrasound data being transmitted to the remote dataprocessor 170 even prior to transmission. Allowing the remotely locatedspecialist to control the parameters of the unprocessed ultrasound dataeven prior to transmission gives the specialist substantially the samelevel of control and flexibility over the ultrasound imaging as thetechnician performing the ultrasound imaging.

[0030] Additionally, the command data transmitted to the ultrasound dataprocessor 130 by the remote data processor 170 may also include thepost-processing parameters of the remote imaging processor 180. Thus,the changes in the post-processing parameters made by the specialist atthe remote terminal 165 may be transmitted back to the ultrasoundimaging system 110 and duplicated by the ultrasound imaging processor140. Therefore, the technician may view the ultrasound images on theon-site display 150 as manipulated by the specialist at the remoteterminal 165. Allowing the technician to view the ultrasound images asdictated by the specialist may aid the technician in determining whatthe specialist determines is important and allow the technician to alterthe ultrasound examination appropriately.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, two-wayaudio data may also be transmitted over the network connection betweenthe ultrasound imaging system 110 and the remote terminal 165. In thealternative embodiment, the ultrasound imaging system 110 additionallyincludes a microphone, a speaker, and a speech recognition andprocessing system. Similarly, the remote terminal 165 also additionallyincludes a microphone, a speaker, and a speech recognition andprocessing system.

[0032] In operation, the specialist at the remote terminal 165 may speakinto the microphone of the remote terminal 165. The microphone thentransmits the audio signal to the speech recognition and processingsystem of the remote terminal 165. The speech recognition and processingsystem converts the specialist's speech into digital speech data. Thedigital speech data may then be transmitted to the remote data processor170. The remote data processor 170 may then compress the digital speechdata using the MPEG format for example. The compressed digital speechdata may then be transmitted from the remote terminal 165 to theultrasound data processor 110 over the network connection. Theultrasound data processor 130 may then receive and decompress thedigital speech data from the remote terminal 165. The decompresseddigital speech data may then be transmitted to the speech recognitionand processing system of the ultrasound imaging system 110. The speechrecognition and processing system of the ultrasound imaging system 110may then process the digital speech data and transmit the digital speechdata to the speaker. The speaker may then display the digital speechdata as an audio signal able to be heard by the technician at theultrasound imaging system.

[0033] Alternatively, the specialist's voice signals may be directlydigitized at the remote data processor 170 to form a digital voicesignal. The digital voice signal may then be transmitted from the remoteterminal 165 to the ultrasound data processor 110 over the networkconnection. The ultrasound data processor 130 may then receive anddecompress the digital voice signal and then transmit the digital voicesignal to the speaker.

[0034] The technician may also transmit audio signals, or speech, to thespecialist in substantially the same manner as described above. Allowingthe technician and the specialist to speak to each other during theultrasound imaging examination may allow the specialist to giveinstructions to the technician during the examination. Thus, allowingcommunication between the technician and the specialist during theexamination may allow for more accurate and efficient ultrasoundexaminations.

[0035] In a third alternative embodiment of the present invention,two-way ultrasound image annotation data may also be transmitted overthe network connection between the ultrasound imaging system 110 and theremote terminal 165. In the third alternative embodiment, the on-siteconsole controls 160 and the remote console controls 195 may include astylus or other control device that may be used to draw on or annotatethe ultrasound images on the on-site display 150 and the remote display190.

[0036] In operation, the specialist may use the remote console controls195 to make annotations on the ultrasound image being displayed on theremote display 190. The annotations made by the specialist on the remotedisplay 190 may then be transmitted over the network to the ultrasoundimaging system 110 and displayed on the on-site display 150 for thetechnician to view in substantially the same manner as discussed abovewith regard to the preferred embodiment. Thus, for example, thespecialist may highlight areas of interest on the ultrasound image forthe technician to focus the examination. The technician may alsoannotate the ultrasound image on the on-site display 150 and transmitthe annotations over the network to the remote terminal 190 for thespecialist to view on the remote display 190. Allowing the specialistand the technician to annotate the ultrasound images and view eachother's annotations, may increase the level of interaction between thespecialist and the technician which may improve the efficiency andquality of the ultrasound examination.

[0037] While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed with reference to an ultrasound imaging system that transmitsultrasound imaging data, the ultrasound data collected by the transducerand transmitted and displayed at the remote terminal 165 may alsoinclude Doppler audio data.

[0038] Additionally, while the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been described with reference to an ultrasound imagingsystem, the invention may be employed in any type of medical imagingsystem where it is desirable for a remotely located expert to view amedical image or control the functionality of the medical imagingsystem.

[0039]FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart 200 of the remotely controllableultrasound imaging system according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. First, at step 205, imaging signals are acquired by amedical imaging system. For example, ultrasonic signals from anultrasonic transducer may be acquired by an ultrasonic imaging system.Next, at step 210, the imaging signals acquired by the medical imagingsystem are operated upon by the medical imaging system to generateunprocessed imaging data. For example, the ultrasonic signals may beacquired by the ultrasonic imaging system may be digitized and/orotherwise manipulated to generate unprocessed ultrasonic imaging data.Then, at step 215, the unprocessed imaging data is compressed. Theimaging data may be compressed using any of a variety of lossy orlossless compression techniques known in the art.

[0040] Next, at step 217, system parameter data from the imaging systemis set using the console controls. At step 220, the unprocessed imagingdata and the parameter data are transmitted from the medical imagingsystem to a remote terminal. The transmission may occur over any type oftransmission network, but preferably occurs via a high-speed networksuch as wireless, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), or other broadbandnetwork.

[0041] Then, at step 225, the compressed unprocessed ultrasound data andsystem parameter data are received by the remote terminal. At step 230,the unprocessed imaging data is decompressed at the remote terminal.Additionally, if parameter data was compressed with the imaging data,the parameter data is also decompressed. At step 240, an operative setof imaging parameters at the remote terminal is acquired. The set ofimaging parameters may have been entered by an operator, such as amedical specialist, at the remote terminal controls. The set of imagingparameters acquired at step 240 may also be transmitted back from theremote imaging system to the medical imaging system previously describedat step 217. For example, the operator may transmit commands to eitherthe imaging system or an operator of the imaging system. For example, asdiscussed above, the operator of the remote terminal may instruct theoperator of the imaging system to concentrate the image on a certainarea of a patient's body. Alternatively, the operator of the remoteterminal may communicate with the operator of the imaging system usingimage annotations or voice commands, as described above.

[0042] Then, at step 245, the remote terminal applies the set of imagingparameters to process the unprocessed imaging data to develop anprocessed image. Concurrent with step 245, at step 270, the medicalimaging system applies the set of imaging parameters to process theunprocessed imaging data to develop an processed image. Next, at step250, the processed image is displayed at the remote terminal for reviewby an operator. Also concurrent with step 250, at step 280, theprocessed image is displayed at the medical imaging system for review byan operator. Next, at step 255, after viewing the image, the operatormay alter the imaging parameters at the remote terminal as shown. Forexample, as the remote terminal continues to receive streaming data fromthe imaging system, the operator may control parameters to increase ordecrease the dynamic range of the processed image displayed at theremote terminal.

[0043]FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart 300 of the data conversion flow ofthe remotely controllable ultrasound imaging system according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. The data conversion flowof the remotely controllable ultrasound imaging system begins withunprocessed ultrasound data. As described above with regard to thedetailed description, the unprocessed ultrasound data is preferablyacquired by a transducer attached to the ultrasound imaging system. Atstep 310, the unprocessed ultrasound data is preferably pre-processedconcurrently at the ultrasound imaging system and the remote terminal bythe ultrasound data processor and the remote data processor respectivelyas described above in FIG. 1. Pre-processing functions may includecalculating the mathematical functions to transform the unprocessedultrasound data from one for to another for example. The pre-processingfunctions performed by the ultrasound data processor and the remote dataprocessor convert the unprocessed ultrasound data into pre-processedultrasound data.

[0044] Then, at step 320, the pre-processed ultrasound data ispreferably post-processed concurrently at the ultrasound imaging systemand the remote terminal by the ultrasound imaging processor and theremote imaging processor respectively as described above in FIG. 1.Post-processing functions may include B-compression, dynamic rangeadjustments, or intensity threshold, for example. The post-processingfunctions performed by the ultrasound imaging processor and the remoteimaging processor convert the pre-processed ultrasound data intopost-processed ultrasound data.

[0045] Upon being pre-processed and post-processed, at step 330, thepost-processed ultrasound data is preferably scan converted concurrentlyat the ultrasound imaging system and the remote terminal by the scanconverter and the remote scan converter respectively as described abovein FIG. 1. The scan conversion performed by the scan converter and theremote scan converter convert the post-processed ultrasound data intopixel image data. As discussed above, the pixel image data is preferablyX-Y position coordinate data. Finally, at step 340, the pixel image datais preferably displayed as an image by the on-site display and theremote display respectively as described above in FIG. 1.

[0046] Thus, the remotely controllable ultrasound imaging system 100presented in the present invention provides for the real-timetransmission of high resolution medical images to a remote expert forevaluation. Additionally, a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention provides for a remotely viewable medical imaging systemcapable of transmitting smooth, high quality, real time ultrasound datato a remote terminal. Furthermore, the medical imaging system presentedin the present invention allows a remote expert to have the same controlover the functionality of the medical imaging system as the technicianperforming the ultrasound imaging. Allowing the remote expert to havesame level of control and flexibility over the ultrasound imaging as thetechnician performing the ultrasound imaging may improve the quality,efficiency, and accuracy of the ultrasound examination which may resultin improved patient care and reduced medical costs.

[0047] While the present invention has been described above withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents maybe substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from itsscope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will includeall embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for remotely displaying a medical image, said system including: a medical imaging system transmitting unprocessed medical imaging data to a remote terminal; and a remote terminal for receiving said unprocessed medical imaging data, processing said unprocessed medical imaging data to form a medical image and displaying said medical image.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal performs post-processing on said unprocessed medical image data.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said medical imaging system acquired said unprocessed medical imaging data.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal sends commands to said medical imaging system.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said medical imaging system also transmits audio data to said remote terminal.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said medical imaging system also transmits system parameter data to said remote terminal.
 7. A system for remotely controlling a medical imaging system, said system including: a remote terminal for transmitting commands to a medical imaging system; and a medical imaging system for receiving and executing said commands from said remote terminal.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein said commands control the post-processing functions of said medical imaging system.
 9. The system of claim 7 wherein said commands control the pre-processing functions of said medical imaging system.
 10. A system for communication between the operator of a medical imaging device and the operator of remote terminal, said system including: a medical imaging system transmitting communications data to a remote terminal and receiving communications data from said remote terminal; a remote terminal for transmitting communications data to a medical imaging system and receiving communications data from said medical imaging system.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein said communications data is audio data.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein said communications data is video data.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein said communications data is unprocessed data.
 14. The system of claim 10 wherein said communications data represents a verbal command.
 15. The system of claim 10 wherein said communications data is text data.
 16. A system for remotely post-processing medical imaging data, said system including: a remote terminal receiving unprocessed medical information data, said remote terminal including a remote imaging processor receiving said unprocessed medical information data and post-processing said medical imaging data.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein said unprocessed medical imaging data is sent by a medical imaging system to said remote terminal.
 18. The system of claim 16 wherein said remote terminal processes said unprocessed medical information data according to imaging parameters.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein said imaging parameters are controlled by an operator at said remoter terminal.
 20. A remote terminal for use in a medical imaging system for remotely displaying a medical image, said remote terminal including; a remote data processor receiving unprocessed medical imaging data; a remote imaging processor for post-processing said medical imaging data to form a medical image; and a display for displaying said medical image.
 21. The remote terminal of claim 20 further including remote console controls.
 22. The remote terminal of claim 21 wherein said remote console controls control imaging parameters at said remoter imaging processor.
 23. The remote terminal of claim 20 wherein said remote console controls are used to relay commands through said remote data processor to an imaging system.
 24. A system for relaying an operator command to the operator of a medical imaging device, said system including: a remote terminal transmitting an operator command to a medical imaging system; and a medical imaging system receiving said command and generating an operator perceivable instruction in response to said operator command.
 25. The system of claim 24 wherein said operator command represents an audio command.
 26. The system of claim 24 wherein said operator command represents an visible command.
 27. The system of claim 24 wherein said operator command is received by said remote terminal from a second operator at said remote terminal.
 28. A method for remotely displaying a medical image, said method including the steps of: transmitting unprocessed medical imaging data from a medical imaging system to a remote terminal; processing said unprocessed medical imaging data at said remote terminal to form a medical image; and displaying said medical image.
 29. The method of claim 28 further including the step of post-processing said unprocessed medical image data at said remote terminal.
 30. The method of claim 28 further including the step of acquiring said unprocessed medical imaging data at said medical imaging system.
 31. The method of claim 28 further including the step of sending commands from said remote terminal to said medical imaging system.
 32. The method of claim 28 further including the step of trnamsitting audio data from said medical imaging system to said remote terminal.
 33. The method of claim 28 further including the step of transmitting system parameter data from said medical imaging system to said remote terminal.
 34. A method for remotely controlling a medical imaging system, said method including the steps of: transmitting commands from a remote terminal to a medical imaging system; and executing said commands at said medical imaging system.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein said commands control the post-processing functions of said medical imaging system.
 36. The method of claim 34 wherein said commands control the processing functions of said medical imaging system.
 37. A method for communication between the operator of a medical imaging device and the operator of remote terminal, said method including the steps of: transmitting communications data to a remote terminal from a medical imaging system; and receiving communications data at said medical imaging system from said remote terminal.
 38. The method of claim 37 wherein said communications data is audio data.
 39. The method of claim 37 wherein said communications data is uncompressed raw data.
 40. The method of claim 37 wherein said communications data is video data.
 41. The method of claim 37 wherein said communications data represents a verbal command.
 42. The method of claim 37 wherein said communications data is text data.
 43. A method for remotely post-processing medical imaging data, said method including the steps of: receiving unprocessed medical information data at a remote terminal; and post-processing said medical imaging data.
 44. The method of claim 43 wherein said unprocessed medical imaging data is sent by a medical imaging system to said remote terminal.
 45. The method of claim 43 wherein said remote terminal processes said unprocessed medical information data according to imaging parameters.
 46. The method of claim 45 wherein said imaging parameters are controlled by an operator at said remoter terminal.
 47. A method for relaying an operator command to the operator of a medical imaging device, said method including the steps of: transmitting an operator command from a remote terminal to a medical imaging system; and generating an operator perceivable instruction in response to said operator command at said medical imaging system.
 48. The system of claim 47 wherein said operator command represents an audio command.
 49. The system of claim 47 wherein said operator command represents an visible command.
 50. The system of claim 47 further including the step of receiving said operator command at said remote terminals from a second operator at said remote terminal.
 51. An imaging system for use in a medical imaging system for remotely displaying a medical image, said imaging system including; a data processor externally transmitting unprocessed medical imaging data.
 52. The imaging system of claim 51 further including a data acquisition processor acquiring imaging data and sending said imaging data to said data processor.
 53. The imaging system of claim 51 wherein said data processor is responsive to control signal from an origin external to said imaging system. 